ABSTRACT
Rural tourism in Serbia had its chance to shine with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to determine to what extent the quality of rural service can contribute to improving rural tourism, and predictions for the continuation of the trend in terms of increasing the number of overnight stays in rural households. The obtained results show a small number of services in the sector could be improved, but that all elements except price value can influence the future development of rural tourism and that the number of overnight stays is expected to continue to grow. The importance and innovativeness of the research is reflected in the specific methodology that was applied, and the results complement those of previous research. It has been shown that villages in Serbia can create a barrier against COVID-19 through tourism. © 2023 by the authors.
ABSTRACT
Although tourism is an industry that has become resistant to various problems over time, the consequences left by COVID-19 pandemic have taken on global proportions. Serbia, like many other countries, has suffered a great damage in tourism industry since the beginning of the pandemic. However, research on the connection between COVID-19 and tourism in Serbia is in its infancy. As no research has been conducted in Serbia on the resilience of employees in different sectors of tourism, the main goal of this study is to determine the extent to which employees in tourism sectors in Serbia are resilient to changes caused by COVID-19 pandemic. Also, the study aimed to determine the intentions in the behavior of employees after the pandemic. Respondents who participated in the research are employed in various sectors of tourism (travel agencies, travel organizations, tourist guides, employees in the hospitality industry, and academic sector). To achieve goals, the survey was conducted among 264 participants in November and December 2020. A scale of 50 statements was applied, and by applying the Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), three resilience factors (competence, communication, and self-efficiency) were singled out. The results of the research show that employees in tourism are largely resilient to the changes, and the strongest factor that stands out among the respondents is competence. In addition, study proved that all the factors of the resilience are expected to have a positive effect on the behavior of employees in the post-crisis period. © 2021, Geographical Institute "Jovan Cviji" of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: During the pandemic, two types of fear were identified that occur significantly in all groups or profiles of people. The aim of this paper is to determine which of the two types of fears exist in certain psychological groups, and which of the fears strongly influence the decision to travel. Design/methodology/approach: The VALS 2 method and standardized questionnaire were used for the segmentation of the tourist market or for the determination of the psychographic profiles of the consumers, and three additional questions were joined to it as they were vital for the research of the type of fear and its impact on the decision for traveling. When the reliability of the questionnaire and the validity of the sample were determined, the data were further processed using a computer program package IMB AMOS SPSS 21.00, and then, based on the theoretical suppositions and hypotheses, the SEM structural model was created. Findings: The paper indicates the existence of established types of fears in humans, when it comes to pandemics and similar crisis situations. People are most afraid of infection during travel, and lack of funds and job loss during the critical period of the pandemic. The research conducted confirms that all groups of people, who are determined by the psychological technique VALS 2, react with a certain dose of fear and make decisions under the pressure of fears. Research limitations/implications: The research had limitations in terms of contact with people and conducting live surveys. The measures during the pandemic, which were carried out by the state, included social distance and limited movement of people. Practical implications: The work can contribute to the community, along with similar research. The results of the research will be available, and it will be possible to see the behavior of people during crisis situations, and the impact of fears on making decisions, both travel decisions and decisions related to other areas of life. Originality/value: The paper provides research results on a large sample of respondents, and can serve as a basis for further research in the field of tourism, psychology and similar fields. It is crucial to consider the type of fears, and the strength of the impact of these fears on the decision to travel, during crisis situations. © 2021, Tamara Gajić, Marko D. Petrović, Ivana Blešić, Milan M. Radovanović and Julia A. Syromiatnikova.